Stand-Alone Ice Making Appliances

ABSTRACT

Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance further includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker including a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. The appliance further includes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to stand-alone ice makingappliances, and in exemplary embodiments to stand-alone ice makingappliances which produce nugget ice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice makers generally produce ice for the use of consumers, such as indrinks being consumed, for cooling foods or drinks to be consumed and/orfor other various purposes. Certain refrigerator appliances include icemakers for producing ice. The ice maker can be positioned within theappliances' freezer chamber and direct ice into an ice bucket where itcan be stored within the freezer chamber. Such refrigerator appliancescan also include a dispensing system for assisting a user with accessingice produced by the refrigerator appliances' ice maker. However, theincorporation of ice makers into refrigerator appliance can havedrawbacks, such as limits on the amount of ice that can be produced andthe reliance on the refrigeration system of the refrigerator applianceto form the ice.

Recently, stand-alone ice makers have been developed. These ice makersare separate from refrigerator appliances and provide independent icesupplies. However, many stand-alone ice makers require a connection tothe plumbing of the dwelling where the ice maker resides, in order tohave access to a water supply. Additionally, many stand-alone ice makersdo not allow for removal of the ice bucket, instead requiring that icebe scooped from the bucket for use. Further, typical stand-alone icemakers are expensive, to the point of being cost-prohibitive to thetypical consumer.

Accordingly, improved stand-alone ice makers are desired in the art. Inparticular, cost-effective stand-alone ice makers which address variousof the above issues would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be apparent from the description, or maybe learned through practice of the invention.

In accordance with one embodiment, a stand-alone ice making appliance isprovided. The appliance includes a container defining a first storagevolume for receipt of ice, a water tank, the water tank defining asecond storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluidcommunication with the second storage volume for actively flowing waterfrom the water tank. The appliance further includes a reservoir defininga third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communicationwith the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the watertank. The appliance further includes an ice maker, the ice makerincluding an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing, the casingin fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving waterfrom the reservoir, the ice maker further including a sealedrefrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. Theappliance further includes a chute extending between the ice maker andthe container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards thefirst storage volume.

In accordance with another embodiment, a stand-alone ice makingappliance is provided. The appliance includes a removable containerdefining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank, thewater tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water anddisposed below the container along a vertical direction, and a pump influid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowingwater from the water tank. The appliance further includes a reservoirdefining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluidcommunication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowedfrom the water tank. The appliance further includes an ice maker, theice maker including a sealed refrigeration system. The appliance furtherincludes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container fordirecting ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storagevolume. Ice within the first storage volume is maintained at atemperature greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of a stand-alone ice makingappliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view (with a casing removed) of astand-alone ice making appliance in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a rear sectional view of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a stand-alone ice makingappliance 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated.As shown, appliance 10 includes an outer casing 12 which generally atleast partially houses various other components of the appliance therein10. A container 14 is also illustrated. Container 14 defines a firststorage volume 16 for the receipt and storage of ice 18 therein. A userof the appliance 10 may access ice 18 within the container 14 forconsumption or other uses. Container 14 may include one or moresidewalls 20 and a base wall 22 (see FIG. 2), which may together definethe first storage volume 16. In exemplary embodiments, at least onesidewall 20 may be formed from a clear, see-through (i.e. transparent ortranslucent) material, such as a clear glass or plastic, such that auser can see into the first storage volume 16 and thus view ice 18therein. Further, in exemplary embodiments, container 14 may beremovable, such as from the outer casing 12, by a user. This facilitateseasy access by the user to ice within the container 14 and further, forexample, may provide access to a water tank 24 (see FIG. 2) of theappliance 10.

Appliances 10 in accordance with the present disclosure areadvantageously stand-alone appliances, and thus are not connected torefrigerators or other appliances. Additionally, in exemplaryembodiments, such appliances are not connected to plumbing or anotherwater source that is external to the appliance 10, such as arefrigerator water source. Rather, in exemplary embodiments, water isinitially supplied to the appliance 10 manually by a user, such as bypouring water into water tank 24.

Notably, appliances 10 as discussed herein include various featureswhich allow the appliances 10 to be affordable and desirable to typicalconsumers. For example, the stand-alone feature reduces the costassociated with the appliance 10 and allows the consumer to position theappliance 10 at any suitable desired location, with the only requirementin some embodiments being access to an electrical source. The removablecontainer 14 allows easy access to ice and allows the container 14 to bemoved to a different position from the remainder of the appliance 10 forice usage purposes. Additionally, in exemplary embodiments as discussedherein, appliance 10 is configured to make nugget ice (as discussedherein) which is becoming increasingly popular with consumers.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 6, various other components of appliances10 in accordance with the present disclosure are illustrated. Forexample, as mentioned, appliance 10 includes a water tank 24. The watertank 24 defines a second storage volume 26 for the receipt and holdingof water. Water tank 24 may include one or more sidewalls 28 and a basewall 30 which may together define the second storage volume 26. Inexemplary embodiments, the water tank 24 may be disposed below thecontainer 14 along a vertical direction V defined for the appliance 10,as shown.

As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, water is provided to the watertank 24 for use in forming ice. Accordingly, appliance 10 may furtherinclude a pump 32. Pump 32 may be in fluid communication with the secondstorage volume 26. For example, water may be flowable from the secondstorage volume 26 through an opening 31 defined in the water tank 24,such as in a sidewall 28 thereof, and may flow through a conduit to andthrough pump 32. Pump 32 may, when activated, actively flow water fromthe second storage volume 26 therethrough and from the pump 32.

Water actively flowed from the pump 32 may be flowed (for examplethrough a suitable conduit) to a reservoir 34. For example, reservoir 34may define a third storage volume 36, which may be defined by one ormore sidewalls 38 and a base wall 40. Third storage volume 36 may, forexample, be in fluid communication with the pump 32 and may thus receivewater that is actively flowed from the water tank 24, such as throughthe pump 32. For example, water may be flowed into the third storagevolume 36 through an opening 42 defined in the reservoir 34.

Reservoir 34 and third storage volume 36 thereof may receive and containwater to be provided to an ice maker 50 for the production of ice.Accordingly, third storage volume 36 may be in fluid communication withice maker 50. For example, water may be flowed, such as through opening44 and through suitable conduits, from third storage volume 36 to icemaker 50.

Ice maker 50 generally receives water, such as from reservoir, andfreezes the water to form ice 18. While any suitable style of ice makeris within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, in exemplaryembodiments, ice maker 50 is a nugget ice maker, and in particular is anauger-style ice maker. As shown, ice maker 50 may include a casing 52into which water from third storage volume 36 is flowed. Casing 52 isthus in fluid communication with third storage volume 36. For example,casing 52 may include one or more sidewalls 54 which may define aninterior volume 56, and an opening 58 may be defined in a sidewall 54.Water may be flowed from third storage volume 36 through the opening 58(such as via a suitable conduit) into the interior volume 56.

As illustrated, an auger 60 may be disposed at least partially withinthe casing 52. During operation, the auger 60 may rotate. Water withinthe casing 52 may at least partially freeze due to heat exchange, suchas with a refrigeration system as discussed herein. The at leastpartially frozen water may be lifted by the auger 60 from casing 52.Further, in exemplary embodiments, the at least partially frozen watermay be directed by auger 60 to and through an extruder 62. The extruder62 may extrude the at least partially frozen water to form ice, such asnuggets of ice 18.

Formed ice 18 may be provided by the ice maker 50 to container 14, andmay be received in the first storage volume 16 thereof. For example, ice18 formed by auger 60 and/or extruder 62 may be provide to the container14. In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10 may include a chute 70 fordirecting ice 18 produced by the ice maker 50 towards the first storagevolume 16. For example, as shown, chute 70 is generally positioned abovecontainer 14 along the vertical direction V. Thus, ice can slide off ofchute 70 and drop into storage volume 16 of container 14. Chute 70 may,as shown, extend between ice maker 50 and container 14, and may includea body 72 which defines a passage 74 therethrough. Ice 18 may bedirected from the ice maker 50 (such as from the auger 60 and/orextruder 62) through the passage 74 to the container 14. In someembodiments, for example, a sweep 64, which may for example be connectedto and rotate with the auger, may contact the ice emerging through theextruder 62 from the auger 60 and direct the ice through the passage 74to the container 14.

As discussed, water within the casing 52 may at least partially freezedue to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system. In exemplaryembodiments, ice maker 50 may include a sealed refrigeration system 80.The sealed refrigeration system 80 may be in thermal communication withthe casing 52 to remove heat from the casing 52 and interior volume 56thereof, thus facilitating freezing of water therein to form ice. Sealedrefrigeration system 80 may, for example, include a compressor 82, acondenser 84, a throttling device 86 and an evaporator 88. Evaporator 88may, for example, be in thermal communication with the casing 52 inorder to remove heat from the interior volume 56 and water thereinduring operation of sealed system 80. For example, evaporator 88 may atleast partially surround the casing 52. In particular, evaporator 88 maybe a conduit coiled around and in contact with casing 52, such as thesidewall(s) 54 thereof. During operation of sealed system 80,refrigerant exits evaporator 88 as a fluid in the form of a superheatedvapor and/or vapor mixture. Upon exiting evaporator 88, the refrigerantenters compressor 82 wherein the pressure and temperature of therefrigerant are increased such that the refrigerant becomes asuperheated vapor. The superheated vapor from compressor 82 enterscondenser 84 wherein energy is transferred therefrom and condenses intoa saturated liquid and/or liquid vapor mixture. This fluid exitscondenser 84 and travels through throttling device 86 that is configuredfor regulating a flow rate of refrigerant therethrough. Upon exitingthrottling device 86, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerantdrop at which time the refrigerant enters evaporator 88 and the cyclerepeats itself. In certain exemplary embodiments, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 through 6, throttling device 86 may be a capillary tube.Notably, in some embodiments, sealed system 80 may additionally includefans (not shown) for facilitating heat transfer to/from the condenser 84and evaporator 88.

As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, ice 18 may be nugget ice. Nuggetice is ice that that is maintained or stored (i.e. in first storagevolume 16 of container 14) at a temperature greater than the meltingpoint of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding thecontainer 14 may be at a temperature greater than the melting point ofwater or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. In someembodiments, such temperature may be greater than forty degreesFahrenheit, greater than fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or greater than 60degrees Fahrenheit.

Ice 18 held within the first storage volume 16 may gradually melt. Themelting speed is increased for nugget ice due to the increasedmaintenance/storage temperature. Accordingly, drain features mayadvantageously be provided in the container for draining such meltwater. Additionally, and advantageously, the melt water may in exemplaryembodiments be reused by appliance 10 to form ice.

For example, in some embodiments as illustrated in FIG. 5, a drainaperture 90 may be defined in the base wall 22. Drain aperture 90 mayallow water to flow from the first storage volume 16 and container 14generally. Further, in exemplary embodiments, water flowing from thefirst storage volume 16 and container 14 may, due to gravity and thevertical alignment of the container 14 of water tank 24, flow into thesecond storage volume 26.

Alternatively, in some embodiments as illustrated in FIG. 6, container14 may further include a bulkhead 92. Bulkhead 92 may for example, begenerally perpendicular to base wall 22, and may be positioned abovebase wall 22 along the vertical direction V. In these embodiments, thesidewall(s) 20 and the bulkhead 92 may define the first storage volume16. Further, an auxiliary storage volume 94 may be defined in thecontainer 14, such as by the sidewall(s) 20, the base wall 22 and thebulkhead 92. The auxiliary storage volume 94 may, for example, bedisposed below the first storage volume 16 along the vertical directionV. A drain aperture 96 may be defined in the bulkhead 92. Drain aperture96 may allow water to flow from the first storage volume 16. Further, inexemplary embodiments, water flowing from the first storage volume 16and container 14 may, due to gravity and the vertical alignment of thefirst storage volume 16 and auxiliary storage volume 94, flow into theauxiliary storage volume 94.

In these embodiments, water disposed within the auxiliary storage volume94 may advantageously be supplied to ice maker 50 for use in making ice18. For example, appliance 10 may further include an auxiliary pump 100.Auxiliary pump 100 may be in fluid communication with the auxiliarystorage volume 94. For example, water may be flowable from the auxiliarystorage volume 94 through an opening 98 defined in the container 14,such as in a sidewall 20 thereof, and may flow through a conduit to andthrough pump 100. Pump 100 may, when activated, actively flow water fromthe container 14 (and auxiliary storage volume 94 thereof) therethroughand from the pump 100. Water actively flowed from the pump 100 may beflowed (for example through a suitable conduit) to reservoir 34 andthird storage volume 36 thereof. Accordingly, third storage volume 36may additionally be in fluid communication with the auxiliary pump 100for receiving water that is actively flowed from the container 14.

In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10 may further include a controller110. Controller 110 may for example, be configured to operate theappliance 10 based on, for example, user inputs to the appliance 10(such as to a user interface thereof), inputs from various sensorsdisposed within the appliance 10, and/or other suitable inputs.Controller 110 may for example include one or more memory devices andone or more microprocessors, such as general or special purposemicroprocessors operable to execute programming instructions ormicro-control code associated with appliance 10 operation. The memorymay represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memorysuch as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executesprogramming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separatecomponent from the processor or may be included onboard within theprocessor.

In exemplary embodiments, controller 110 may be in operativecommunication with the pump 32. Further, in exemplary embodiments, thecontroller 110 may additionally be in operative communication with theauxiliary pump 100. Such operative communication may be via a wired orwireless connection, and may facilitate the transmittal and/or receiptof signals by the controller 110 and pump(s) 32, 100. Controller 110 maybe configured to activate the pump 32, and may further be configured toactivate the auxiliary pump 100, to actively flow water. For example,controller 110 may activate the pump 32 or auxiliary pump 100 toactively flow water therethrough when, for example, reservoir 34requires water. A suitable sensor(s), for example, may be provided inthe third storage volume 36. The sensor(s) may be in operativecommunication with the controller 110 may be transmit signals to thecontroller 110 which indicate whether or not additional water is desiredin the reservoir 34. When controller 110 receives a signal that water isdesired, controller 110 may send a signal to pump 32 or pump 100 toactivate that pump.

Further, in some embodiments, controller 110 may be configured toactivate the auxiliary pump 100 before the pump 32 when water isflowable through the auxiliary pump 100. For example, controller 110 mayinitially determine whether water is available for flowing through pump100, and from auxiliary storage volume 94, when water is desired. Ifwater is available, controller 110 may activate pump 100, such as untilwater is no longer available for flowing through pump 100. Controller110 may then activate pump 32 if further water is desired. Suitablesensor(s) may be provided in the auxiliary storage volume 94 orauxiliary pump 100 for sending water availability signals to controller110, such as when requested by controller 110. These sensors may, forexample, monitor the water level in the auxiliary storage volume 94 orthe auxiliary pump 100 and provide signals to the controller 110 on thisbasis.

It should additionally be noted that, in exemplary embodiments,controller 110 may be in operative communication with the sealed system80, such as with the compressor 82 thereof, and may activate the sealedsystem 80 as desired or required for ice making purposes.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising: acontainer defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice; a watertank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt ofwater; a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume foractively flowing water from the water tank; a reservoir defining a thirdstorage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with thepump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank; anice maker, the ice maker comprising an auger at least partiallysurrounded by a casing, the casing in fluid communication with the thirdstorage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice makerfurther comprising a sealed refrigeration system in thermalcommunication with the casing; and a chute extending between the icemaker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice makertowards the first storage volume.
 2. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 1, wherein the water tank is disposed below thecontainer along a vertical direction.
 3. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a side wall and abase wall which define the first storage volume, the base wall defininga drain aperture.
 4. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1,wherein the container comprises a side wall, a base wall, and abulkhead, the sidewall and the bulkhead defining the first storagevolume, and wherein an auxiliary storage volume is defined by thesidewall, the bulkhead and the base wall.
 5. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary storage volume is disposedbelow the first storage volume along a vertical direction.
 6. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 4, wherein the bulkheaddefines a drain aperture.
 7. The stand-alone ice making appliance ofclaim 4, further comprising an auxiliary pump in fluid communicationwith the auxiliary storage volume for actively flowing water from thecontainer, and wherein the third storage volume is further in fluidcommunication with the auxiliary pump for receiving water that isactively flowed from the container.
 8. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 7, further comprising a controller in operativecommunication with the pump and the auxiliary pump, the controllerconfigured to activate the pump and the auxiliary pump.
 9. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 8, wherein the controller isconfigured to activate the auxiliary pump before the pump when water isflowable through the auxiliary pump.
 10. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 1, wherein the ice maker further comprises anextruder.
 11. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, whereinthe sealed refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser, athrottling device, and an evaporator, and wherein the evaporator atleast partially surrounds the casing.
 12. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 1, wherein the container is removable.
 13. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein ice within thefirst storage volume is maintained at a temperature greater thanthirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
 14. The stand-alone ice making applianceof claim 1, wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained ata temperature greater than forty degrees Fahrenheit.
 15. A stand-aloneice making appliance, comprising: a removable container defining a firststorage volume for receipt of ice; a water tank, the water tank defininga second storage volume for receipt of water and disposed below thecontainer along a vertical direction; a pump in fluid communication withthe second storage volume for actively flowing water from the watertank; a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storagevolume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that isactively flowed from the water tank; an ice maker, the ice makercomprising a sealed refrigeration system; and a chute extending betweenthe ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the icemaker towards the first storage volume, wherein ice within the firststorage volume is maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-twodegrees Fahrenheit.
 16. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim15, wherein the container comprises a side wall and a base wall whichdefine the first storage volume, the base wall defining a drainaperture.
 17. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 15, whereinthe container comprises a side wall, a base wall, and a bulkhead, thesidewall and the bulkhead defining the first storage volume, and whereinan auxiliary storage volume is defined by the sidewall, the bulkhead andthe base wall.
 18. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 17,wherein the bulkhead defines a drain aperture.
 19. The stand-alone icemaking appliance of claim 17, further comprising an auxiliary pump influid communication with the auxiliary storage volume for activelyflowing water from the container, and wherein the third storage volumeis further in fluid communication with the auxiliary pump for receivingwater that is actively flowed from the container.
 20. The stand-aloneice making appliance of claim 15, wherein the ice maker furthercomprises an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing, the casingin fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving waterfrom the reservoir.